May 16th and Fired Up

we're still stuggling to get above 50 most days... & it keeps trying to snow also (we still have at least 3 feet on the ground here at 7,500 ft.).. they're predicting 8-25 inches of snow above 8,000 ft. over the next couple of days for some of the mountain ranges around here...

This year's gonna be one h*ll of a runoff year... (not to mention that the driest river basin in the state right now is at 138% of normal for snowpack)

Mt Ski Bum said:

we're still stuggling to get above 50 most days... & it keeps trying to snow also (we still have at least 3 feet on the ground here at 7,500 ft.).. they're predicting 8-25 inches of snow above 8,000 ft. over the next couple of days for some of the mountain ranges around here...

This year's gonna be one h*ll of a runoff year... (not to mention that the driest river basin in the state right now is at 138% of normal for snowpack)

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Why are all of the ski areas closed, not that I'm going but just wondering... May 16 was the last day for me. Once we get out of this stalled storm, we are headed for the 80's, and probably the AC, if only on the upstairs.

A-basin is still open, will be until 6-19. I think most of it is due to lease arrangements with the Forest Service, and lack of interest. This morning, I was passed by vehicles with ski's and boards on the roof's. Also trucks and utes towing pontoon and drift boats. I get passed by lots of stuff- my car sucks.

Big Sky Resort is on it's own land, but alot of the other ski areas in the state are under Forest Service contract. Strangely enough, it's usually the ones that are on forest service land that open earlier than anticipated or stay open past their anticipated closing date. Not so with Big Sky- they plan the opening & closing dates like a year in advance & set them in stone- it doesn't matter if they have the deepest snowpack of the season or if the ski runs are almost dirt... they still close on the date they made up a year before. Big Sky could easily open in mid-October & stay open till almost June most years, but the corporate goons back in Michigan don't listen to what the locals have to say...

I kinda wish I had enough time to get down & ski A-Basin in May or June... with Vail, Aspen, & most of the other huge destination resorts closed, I bet I-70 is a lot nicer drive... I have relatives that live outside of Denver in the foothills & they said they've heard of people running out of gas idling in traffic on I-70 coming back from skiing at the end of the day... I just can't even imagine traffic being backed up that bad...

Got keen and had the first fire of the season yesterday, back to 21deg C for the rest of the week now, owell

corrupt said:

Got keen and had the first fire of the season yesterday, back to 21deg C for the rest of the week now, owell

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You folks in the southern hemisphere need to start taking over this board now. Or else we will be submerged in chimney cleaning threads until November!

Sen. John Blutarsky said:

corrupt said:

Got keen and had the first fire of the season yesterday, back to 21deg C for the rest of the week now, owell

Click to expand...

You folks in the southern hemisphere need to start taking over this board now. Or else we will be submerged in chimney cleaning threads until November!

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+1 :lol: :lol:

Seriously, Mate...let us hear from you down under burners as you head into your winter burning season. G'day! Rick (many fond memories of visiting Australia during my career in the Navy)

fossil said:

Sen. John Blutarsky said:

corrupt said:

Got keen and had the first fire of the season yesterday, back to 21deg C for the rest of the week now, owell

Click to expand...

You folks in the southern hemisphere need to start taking over this board now. Or else we will be submerged in chimney cleaning threads until November!

Click to expand...

+1 :lol: :lol:

Seriously, Mate...let us hear from you down under burners as you head into your winter burning season. G'day! Rick (many fond memories of visiting Australia during my career in the Navy)

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+1 here too!!

Many happy times spent out near red gum and jarrah trees over in WA. Let us know what you're burning.

And knowing what a dry Summer you guys just had, bet there is no shortage of well seasoned wood around ;-)

I had winter R & R in Australia in 1970 at a station out back, but don't remember a wood stove. Everyone else headed for the nightlife in Sydney, but I took the offer to stay with a family on a station for the week. I was thinking of cattle, forests, and Ozarks when I signed up. As you know, no trees, no cattle, no streams. It was a desert. But there was a wonderful farm family. We fixed fence, ate lamb, set up at night talking by oil lantern light. It was a week that I needed more than anything at that time. I have always been thankful for their hospitality. I kept their address, but didn't make it home with my personal effects. When I did finally return stateside, I discovered the lady had written my mother to tell her how I was doing. I was so happy until my mother told me she had written back, but couldn't find the address. I have always regretted not being able to write those folks and tell them how much that visit meant to me. I always pay for the drinks when around Aussies. It is expensive for sure, but in some ways, they saved my life.

Darn it . . . after a few days of no fire I decided it was time to do my annual top to bottom cleaning . . . and I picked a day that was quite cool outside. I still resisted the urge to light a fire though until this morning as it was past "quite cool" and was at "chilly" -- figured it would be easier to clean the stove a second time than it is to pay $3.63 per gallon for heating oil.

Just shut the a/c off and opened some windows. Looks like the cold front is blowing thru. Prolly have a fire in the morning, lol.

It's been in the 40's all day with a steady rain. I put on a sweater, but tonight I'm going to light up the stove.
Not quite done with the heating season of 2010-2011.

80 today, 88 tomorrow, stove is nighty night. Hope it cools off enough to get er cleaned.

I think when this thread started is the week we had a fire on Sunday, almost turned the AC on on Thursday and then had a fire again on Saturday.

My wife just asked me to start a fire but I don't have any wood in the house for the Morso. Guess she better put on a sweatshirt.

DONE! How do I know? The winter slippers have now been replaced by the flip flops. The shrink wrap is about to be pulled off of the "in-wall" AC units. Lastly, starting to mix in the occasional Iced Coffee.